Repopulating retinal microglia restore endogenous organization and function under CX3CL1-CX3CR1 regulation.

ABSTRACT: Microglia have been discovered to undergo repopulation following ablation. However, the functionality of repopulated microglia and the mechanisms regulating microglia repopulation are unknown. We examined microglial homeostasis in the adult mouse retina, a specialized neural compartment containing regular arrays of microglia in discrete synaptic laminae that can be directly visualized. Using in vivo imaging and cell-fate mapping techniques, we discovered that repopulation originated from residual microglia proliferating in the central inner retina that subsequently spread by centrifugal migration to fully recapitulate pre-existing microglial distributions and morphologies. Repopulating cells fully restored microglial functions including constitutive "surveying" process movements, behaviora

SUBMITTER: Zhang Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5943055 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature